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Police: Stray bullet nearly hits Downers Grove woman

Thomas J. Lyons, 30, charged with reckless discharge of firearm

By SUBURBAN LIFE MEDIA

Jan. 15, 2018

DOWNERS GROVE – A Downers Grove woman was nearly struck by a stray bullet Jan. 9 while she played video games in the living room of her apartment, according to a Downers Grove Police Department report.

Her neighbor, Thomas J. Lyons, 30, of the 500 block of Prairie Avenue, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm without a firearm owners identification card. Lyons' FOID card was revoked, police said.

Lyons initially denied owning a firearm but later admitted to having a handgun, according to the report. He allegedly told police he accidentally discharged the weapon through his apartment window, the report stated.

The victim told police she heard something hit her living room window in the 500 block of Prairie Avenue at about 8:45 p.m. but thought nothing of it until she noticed a hole more than 1 inch in diameter in the blinds, according to the report. She then noticed a hole in the window pane and in the living room wall across from the window, police said.

Police found a corresponding hole in the front window of the adjacent apartment building, the report stated.

Police recovered a Glock 9mm handgun from Lyons' apartment, according to the report. They also found a rifle, a replica sword and a look-alike air soft gun from the apartment, the report stated.

Police found the gun's magazine between a mattress and box spring and located a single bullet under the bed, according to the report. Lyons allegedly had the empty shell casing in his pocket, police said.

Lyons said he was unaware his FOID card was revoked, the report stated. He said he had no documentation for the rifle because he believed it was a BB gun, according to the report.